March 03, 2025 - Harrisburg, PA
The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) announced that Isavel Mendoza, a senior at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts in Northampton County, is Pennsylvania's 2025 Poetry Out Loud (POL) state champion. Mendoza will represent Pennsylvania in the national finals, which will be held in Washington, D.C., May 5 - 7, 2025."On behalf of the Council and staff of the PCA, I want to congratulate our 14 regional champions for their commitment, hard work and the commendable accomplishment of making it to the state competition, said Karl Blischke, PCA Executive Director. I extend my very best wishes to Isavel as he goes on to compete at the Poetry Out Loud national finals." As the POL state champion, Mendoza will receive $200 from the Poetry Foundation and an all-expenses-paid trip to the national championship. In addition, Mendoza's school will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry materials. Each year, a total of $50,000 in awards and school/organizational stipends is awarded at the national finals.